Laurel Oak is a semi-evergreen to a deciduous shade tree in the red oak family that is native to the southeastern U.S.A. from Virginia to Florida and west to Texas. In North Carolina, it can be found in moderately dry to seasonally flooded soils of floodplains and swamp margins in the Piedmont and coastal plain areas. It generally grows 40-60 feet tall and rarely to 100 feet with a dense rounded crown. Acorns may be produced as early as 15 years of age. Laurel Oak is adaptable to various soil types even poorly drained clay soil. It will grow in full sun to partial shade. Use this tree as a shade tree in lawns or parks. It is a host plant for the larvae of the Imperial moth ( Eacles imperialis ) , as well as numerous butterflies, including Banded hairstreak ( Satyrium calanus ) , Edward's hairstreak ( Satyrium edwardsii ) , Gray hairstreak ( Strymon melinus ) , White-m hairstreak ( Parrhasius malbum ) , Horace's duskywing ( Erynnis horatius ) , and Juvenalis duskywing ( Erynnis juvenalis ) . Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: This oak grows very rapidly and can have problems with weak wood, especially in high winds.
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day) | Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil texture
Clay; High Organic Matter; Loam (Silt); Sand
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Moist | Occasionally Wet
NC region
Coastal
Growth rate
Rapid
Maintenance
Medium
Canopy layer
2 - Understory
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Dense; Erect; Rounded
Foliage
Semi-evergreen
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Alternate
Leaf shape
Elliptical; Oblong
Leaf margin
Entire; Lobed
Leaf size
3-6 inches long, 1-3 inches wide
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
The 3-5 inch long and 1.5 inch wide elliptic to oblong leathery leaves are glossy green with paler undersides. Margins entire with shallow lobes. The leaves last into winter in warmer climates.
Flower form
Catkin; Insignificant
Flower detail
Male catkins are yellow-green. Female flowers are small reddish spikes.
Bloom time
Spring
Fruit color
Brown/Copper
Fruit type
Nut
Fruit size
< 1 inch long, < 1 inch wide
Fruit detail
1/2 to 2/3 inch long round dark brown and striated acorn. The scaly cap is usually shallow but may cover up to 1/3 of the acorn. Matures in 2 years.
Bark color
Dark Brown
Bark detail
Dark brown and initially smooth. Develops shallow fissures with flat, rough ridges at maturity.
Stem color
Brown/Copper; Red/Burgundy
Stem detail
Slender, light reddish-brown, smooth, buds are sharp-pointed reddish-brown and clustered at twig ends.
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Native
Origin
Southeastern U.S.A. to TX
Distribution
AL , AR , FL , GA , LA , MD , MS , NC , PA , SC , TX , VA
Wildlife value
Oak trees support a wide variety of Lepidopteran. You may see Imperial Moth (Eacles imperialis) larvae which have one brood per season and appear from April-October in the south. Adult Imperial Moths do not feed. Banded Hairstreak (Satyrium calanus), which have one flight from June-August everywhere but Florida where they emerge April-May. Edward's Hairstreak (Satyrium edwardsii), has one flight from May-July in the south and June-July in the north. Gray Hairstreak (Strymon melinus), has three to four flights in the south from February-November and two flights in the north from May-September. White-M Hairstreak (Parrhasius m-album) has three broods in the north from February-October. Horace’s Duskywing (Erynnis horatius) has three broods in Texas and the deep south from January-November, and two broods in the north from April-September. Juvenal’s Duskywing (Erynnis juvenalis) has one brood from April-June, appearing as early as January in Florida. Birds and mammals use the nuts from this tree as a food source. Birds and small mammals use this tree for nesting.
Attracts
Butterflies; Moths; Pollinators; Small Mammals; Songbirds